Federal regulators have approved the start of construction on all but a small portion of Summit Midstream Partners LP’s 135-mile Double E natural gas pipeline that would connect Permian Basin supplies to the Gulf Coast.

Double E

Summit CEO Heath Deneke touted the “efficiency with which this project has achieved its key milestones” and confirmed the pipeline’s expected 2021 in-service before the end of this year.

“Our world-class development team has maintained its focus on delivering the Double E project on time and under budget and has been instrumental in advancing the project and taking another step toward start-up,” Deneke said.

In its Tuesday notice to proceed order, FERC said general construction activities associated with Double E may proceed, except for nine...